Selkirk remains open during A7 works

Selkirk remains open for business during November despite a series of works taking place in the town.

The main works will see trunk road operator Amey resurface the A7 at Ettrick Terrace from Monday 13 to Friday 24 November.

The A7 will also be closed at Tower Street from Monday 20 to Friday 24 November for a series of co-ordinated works by ourselves, Scottish Gas Networks and Scottish Power, which have been scheduled to take place at the same time as the Amey works.

The decision to co-ordinate the works is an effort to minimise the disruption to a shorter period of time.

Ettrick Terrace (A7) – 13 to 24 November

A convoy system will operate from 13 to 17 November on the road from 9am to 4pm. The road will fully reopen on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November, before a full closure of the road from 20 to 24 November from 9am to 4pm will take place to allow the works to be completed.

Tower Street (A7) – 20 to 24 November

From 20 to 24 November, Tower Street will be closed from the High Street junction to the Back Row junction.

Tower Street will be closed 24 hours each day to allow vital works associated with the £450,000 Selkirk Streetscape project. SGN will replace a gas main and Scottish Power will perform important works to their network at the same time.

Traffic lights and pedestrian crossings affected

The permanent pedestrian crossing on the High Street will be switched off but an additional crossing will be included alongside temporary traffic lights. There will also be manual control of the temporary traffic lights between 7am to 7pm to ensure traffic flows and pedestrians are kept safe.

Diversion

From 20 to 24 November, all northbound traffic will be diverted via the A699, A68 and A6091 to rejoin the A7 at Kingsknowes roundabout, with southbound traffic being diverted in reverse by Kingsknowes Roundabout via the A6091, A68 and A699 to rejoin the A7.

Buses

From 20 to 24 November, the X95 northbound service will divert via Back Row, Scott’s Place, Bleachfield Road, Raeburn Lane, Shawburn Road and Raeburn Place to rejoin the A7 at The Toll, with the X95 southbound service following the same diversion in reverse. Buses to and from Bannerfield will be unaffected.

Notification

Electronic signage will be put in place prior to the works to warn motorists, letters will be issued to local residents and businesses and updates provided on our own and partners’ social media channels.

Other works

Hillside Terrace (A7)

Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 November - Amey is carrying out patching works to Hillside Terrace which will require its closure between 9am and 4pm for three days.

Motorists will be diverted via the A699, A68 and A6091 to rejoin the A7 at Kingsknowes roundabout, while buses will use the Loan and Back Row.

Kirk Wynd

23 October to 1 December – the road is closed to traffic for six weeks for streetscape works. Pedestrians access is maintained as well as access to the West Port car park.

High Street/Chapel Street

Temporary traffic lights are due to operate on the High Street/Chapel Street junction for nine months to allow the demolition of the former Co-op store to make way for ten new flats. A start date for these works is still to be confirmed.

“Selkirk remains open for business during these works and we would encourage local people to continue to support our local shops.

“In the short term, there is no doubt there will be significant disruption to the town. However, the alternative to this co-ordinated approach was a series of closures which would have caused greater issues.

“We would also ask drivers to please follow the diversion signs and be patient during the works.

“In the longer term, the town will be provided with better services by these various works. These include the building improvements being carried out by Selkirk CARS including the refurbishment of the Courthouse steeple, the streetscape works which will drastically improve Market Place and the removal of the former Co-op building eyesore which will be replaced by ten modern town centre flats.”

"Scottish Borders Council and Amey have worked closely to reduce the impact of a number of essential road maintenance schemes around Selkirk. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but we hope that this approach will reduce the period of disruption, overall.

"These works will result in improvements to the road surfaces, and reduce the need for further more extensive maintenance in the future. With winter approaching it seems sensible for Amey and the Council to work together to ensure these routes are ready for the colder weather ahead."